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Colourful new event aims to raise funds for hospice

First published
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by Alex Wynick, Reporter covering Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys. Call me on 01865 425403

PEOPLE can get messy and raise funds for a good cause with Oxford’s first Rainbow Run event.

Runners are being invited to take on a 3km course at University Parks on Sunday, June 8 for Helen and Douglas House hospice for children and young people in Magdalen Road, East Oxford.

But the summer fitness event comes with a difference, according to hospice activities fundraiser Poppy Hanbury.

She said: “The idea is that everyone comes dressed in white, although we are offering white T-shirts if you don’t want to ruin your own clothes. There will be five colour stations. As people run through them, there will be volunteers waiting, who we have called paint throwers, who will throw dry powder paint at the runners.

“At the start you’re all nice and white, and then at the end you are covered head to toe in all sorts of colours.”

She said: “We wanted to add something new to our events calendar.

“There are other similar events, but they are usually five or 10k runs and we wanted to make it easier for our supporters and our community in Oxford to run.

“It’s just meant to be a really upbeat, fun, vibrant event that really fits with the ethos of Helen and Douglas House of making the most of life.”

She added: “We’re hoping that people will fundraise as well.

“The money will go to the general running of Helen and Douglas House. It costs £5m a year to keep it going.”

Mobile hairdresser and Blackbird Leys resident Kimberley Walton-Twist, who has already signed up to be one of the 600 runners, said: “It sounds like a great event.